Abstract
Introduction-
The use of pesticide in agricultural fitioneld is most hazardous operation as these HEALTH RISK OF PESTICIDE APPLICATORS OF SENCHOWA AREA OF NOWGONG DISTRICT, ASSAM, INDIA workers. The formulator, manufactures and applicators are occupationally exposed to pesticides. They constitute high risk population group. Applicator are of special significance since they handle more than one pesticide for long time and exposed for entire life span . So a study was undertaken to assess the health risk of pesticide applicators exposed to combination of organ chlorine and organophophorus pesticides in Senchowa area of Nowgong district Assam India.
Material and Methods-
In the Nowgong district some places are selected randomly from Senchowa area such as Bebajia,kumargong, Alanisatra Gahi, KhutiKotia. The pesticide used widely Melathion(50%), BHC(10%dust), Dimethiate(90%EC,5%), Carboryl(20%EC,2-5%dust). There was no definite work schedule for the workers. We recorded 400 exposed workers. They Sprayed for 2-4 hours a day in a particular season. So, the exposure were recorded in terms of week. All the workers were male and with in age group of 28.38 ±5.46 and exposed for a period of 10-20 hours and above. A group of 108 subjects comparable to socio-economic status, but not occupationally exposed to pesticides were studied as control. No protective devices were used by the applicators. Of course, normal hygienic measure such as washing of hands and faces before and after meal are being practiced. All the exposed and control subjects were normally healthy with no clinical illness. (As recorded from personal interview)
Results and discussions-
Exposed applicators were divided in to three groups –mild exposure period up to one month, moderately exposed for exposure period with one month to one year and individuals. The highly effected age group was 25-30 years. From the clinical examination the type of acute toxic symptoms recorded were neurological including fatigue(29% RR=1.51),muscle weakness(22%,RR=1.170), dry/sore throat(29%RR=1.974), stomach pain(5%,RR=.743), skin redness(23%,RR.=1.17), weakness and psychological symptoms along with gastrointestinal problems were observed However, symptoms were disappearing when they stop using pesticide. A significant depression in Ache were observed in the applicators as compared to control. It was observed that a subjects with only psychological symptoms had less depressions of whole blood Che activity, then the subjects with the subjects with gastrointestinal and cardio respiratory symptoms.
Conclusion-
The result of overall observation showed that toxic symptoms in exposed individual were due to the effect of O C and O. P pesticide, neurotoxic, psychological along with gastrointestinal cardio respiratory symptoms were mainly due to Organophosphate pesticides The present Investigation revealed that the health risk of pesticide applicators
